Door fastener



F. J. WATKINS ON DOOR FASTENER Filed Nov. 26, 1927 Sept. 18, 1928.

Patented Sept. 18 1928.

' UNITED STATESIPATENT'OFFICE.

rnnnnnrcx J. WATKINSON, or sTnArHRoY, omnaro, CANADA, ASSIGNOR or omi- HALF TO JOHN N. RATCLIFFE, OF STRATHROY,- CANADA.

noon FASTENER.

Application filed November 26,1927. Serial No. 235,889.

This invention relates to fasteners or snaps particularly for use with screen doors, which it is important to retain in tightly closed position to prevent the entrance of flies. It may also be used withstorm doors r other closure members. It is desirable that a fastener of this type should be operated automatically by the door and should not interfere with the ordinary opening or closing thereof.

My object is to devise a fastener of this type which will fulfill the above requirements and which, at the same time, may be cheaply manufactured and quickly installed.

I attain my object by constructing the fastener substantially as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which i Fig. l is a plan view of the device with the door partly open;

Fig. 2 a similar view showing the device in the position it assumes when the door is closed;

Fig. 3 a side elevation of the same partly broken away;

Fig. 4: a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form; and

Fig. 5 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device mentioned directly on the door.

In the drawings like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

1 indicates a door frame and 2 a door. On the outside of the frame is positioned a post or support 3 having a flanged base 4 by means of which it may be secured to the frame by means of suitable screws 5. Pivoted intermediate the ends of the post is a bail-shaped frame or link 6 having a hook member 7 pivoted on its outer or free end. A suitable spring 8 is provided normally tending to move the frame 6 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

In the preferred form a hole9 is formed through the post, and on the portion of the frame passing through the hole a coil spring is mounted, oneend of the spring being engaged with the frame and the other end with the post.

The operation of the device isas follows. Assuming the door to be open, the parts occupy the position as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. As the door moves to closed position it engages the hook member 7 and shoves the pivot joint between the hook member and link towards the support, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. 1

This movement disengages the hook from the head of the supportand the frictional engagement of the door against the hook tends to rock the latter on the link into alinement therewith. As the door passes the pivot point, the link moves in behind the door. The spring 8 then comes into action and rapidly rocks the link to move the door to the closed position as shown in F ig. 2.

I'Vhen opening, the door rocks the link outwardly against the tension of the spring 8. As the door passes the pivot joint between the'link andhook, it engages the hook and moves its free end towards the support for engagement with the head of the latter when the door has opened sufficiently far.

In Fig. l- I show a'slightly modifiedform in which the hook member is'provided'with a tail or extension 10. The operation in this case is, however, the same as in the other form. t

In Fig. 5 I show the device attached directly to the door instead of to the door frame. In this case it is preferable to mount on the frame a projection 9 to engage and release the hook. The link, when the door is closed, engages behind this projection to hold the door in closed position.

From the above description it will be seen that I have devised a fastener which will satisfactorily attain the objects of my invention as set out in the preamble of this specification.

What I claim is: a

1. In a door fastener, the combination of a support adapted to be secured to adoor or door frame; a link pivoted on said support a distance from the head thereof; spring means normally tending .to rock the link to wards the base of the support; and a hook member piroted on the free end of the link, and adapted to be engaged with the head of the support, said link, when the hook member is so engaged, lying at an angle to the line of travel of the free side of the door and its free end spaced from'said support.

2. In a door fastener, the combination of a support adapted to be secured to a door or door frame and having a hole formed therethrough a distance from the head thereof; a link pivoted in said 7 hole; spring means mounted on said link within the hole and having anarm engaging aside of the link llu outside the hole and normally tending to rock the link towards the base of the support; and a hook member pivoted on the free end of the link," and adapted to be engagged with the head of the support," said link, when the hook member is so engaged, lying at an'angle to the line of travel oft-he free side of the door and its free end spaced from said support. V l

3. In a door fastener, the combination of a support adapted to be secured to a'door or door frame and having; a hole formed therethrough a distance from the head thereof vand a recess communicating Wlth' said hole; spring means mounted on said side the iole and norniall the line of travel of the free side of the door and its free end spacedfrom said support,

Signed at Toronto, Canada, this 1st day of November, 1927. v

FREDERICK J. WATKINSONI tending to rock 

